⁹ On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, ^(A)Peter went up on ^(B)the ^[a]housetop about ^[b](C)the sixth hour to pray.

²² They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and ^(A)God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, ^(B)was divinely directed by a ^(C)holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear ^[a](D)a message from you.” ²³ So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

Peter in Caesarea

Now on the next day he got ready and went away with them, and ^(E)some of ^(F)the brothers from ^(G)Joppa accompanied him. ²⁴ On the following day he entered ^(H)Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and ^[b](I)worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter helped him up, saying, “^(J)Stand up; I, too, am just a man.” ²⁷ As he talked with him, he entered and *found ^(K)many people assembled. ²⁸ And he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is ^(L)forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a ^[c]foreigner; and yet ^(M)God has shown me that I am not to call any person ^[d]unholy or unclean. ²⁹ That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask, for what reason did you send for me?”

³⁰ Cornelius said, “^(N)Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during ^(O)the ^[e]ninth hour; and behold, ^(P)a man stood before me in shining clothing, ³¹ and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God. ³² Therefore send some men to ^(Q)Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ ³³ So I sent men to you immediately, and you have ^[f]been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear Good News

^34 (R)Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that ^(S)God is not one to show partiality, ³⁵ but ^(T)in every nation the one who ^[g](U)fears Him and ^[h]does what is right is acceptable to Him. ³⁶ The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, ^(V)preaching ^[i](W)peace through Jesus Christ (He is ^(X)Lord of all)— ³⁷ you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. ^38 [j]You know of ^(Y)Jesus of Nazareth, how God ^(Z)anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, ^[k](AA)and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for ^(AB)God was with Him. ³⁹ We are ^(AC)witnesses of all the things that He did both in the ^[l]country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on ^[m](AD)a cross. ^40 (AE)God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He ^[n]be revealed, ^41 (AF)not to all the people, but to ^(AG)witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us ^(AH)who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. ⁴² And He ^(AI)ordered us to ^[o]preach to the people, and to ^(AJ)testify solemnly that this is the One who has been ^(AK)appointed by God as ^(AL)Judge of the living and the dead. ^43 (AM)All the prophets testify of Him, that through ^(AN)His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, ^(AO)the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the ^[p]message. ^45 (AP)All the ^[q]Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been ^(AQ)poured out on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them ^(AR)speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, ⁴⁷ “^(AS)Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who ^(AT)have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” ⁴⁸ And he ^(AU)ordered them to be baptized ^(AV)in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.